Short path fractional distillation apparatus

A short path fractional distillation apparatus comprising:

• flash distillation apparatus that defines a fractionation volume and comprises:
• an evacuation port in fluid communication with the fractionation volume;
• a first input port configured to introduce a pre-heated liquid into the fractionation volume and cause vaporization of at least a relatively low boiling point portion of the introduced pre-heated liquid;
• a condenser disposed within the fractionation volume and configured to cool at least a portion of the fractionation volume and thereby condense a vaporized relatively low boiling point portion of the introduced pre-heated liquid to produce a first condensate;
• a first condensate port, distinct from the evacuation port, configured to withdraw the first condensate;
• and
• a first output port, distinct from the first condensate port and distinct from the evacuation port, disposed at a bottom of, and in fluid communication with, the fractionation volume and configured to allow a liquid portion of the introduced pre-heated liquid to flow under gravity therethrough;
• and
• a short path stripper disposed directly below the flash distillation apparatus, the short path stripper comprising:
• an elongated housing having a vertical axis and a second input port at a top of the short path stripper, wherein the second input port is directly fluidically coupled to the first output port of the flash distillation apparatus, without intermediate piping, such that liquid from the fractionation volume flows under gravity, through the first output port, into the second input port;
• a plurality of vertically spaced apart plates disposed within the housing along the vertical axis, wherein each plate:
• has an outer dimension;
• is oriented perpendicular to the vertical axis;
• and defines a respective aperture therethrough, the aperture having a respective dimension;
• a plurality of jackets interdigitated along the vertical axis with the plurality of plates, wherein each jacket:
• comprises a tube and an inwardly and downwardly dished flange about an upper circumference of the tube;
• is disposed below, and vertically spaced apart from, a respective above-adjacent plate of the plurality of plates;
• and defines an inner wall surface having an inside dimension less than the outer dimension of the above-adjacent plate and greater than the dimension of the aperture of any below-adjacent plate;
• a cooling member that extends axially through the tubes of the plurality of jackets and has an outer wall parallel to, and spaced a predetermined distance apart from, the inner wall surface of each jacket of the plurality of jackets;
• a heating member thermally coupled to the inner wall surface of each jacket of the plurality of jackets;
• a second output port, distinct from the first output port and distinct from the first condensate port, configured to withdraw a liquid residue from a bottom of the elongated housing;
• and
• a second condensate port, distinct from the first condensate port and the second output port, configured to withdraw second condensate created by the cooling member.